Aero walked forward confidently as his number was called. His chin was raised high, his back straight, and his expression overflowing with pride.
"Eeee… look at him." "What's with that pose…?"
Some applicants mocked him in exaggerated, cringeworthy tones, but Aero remained completely unfazed. In fact, he looked even prouder.
With dramatic confidence, he stepped toward the staircase leading to the stage...
and instantly missed a step.
"WHOA—!"
He tripped and crashed face-first onto the stairs.
For a moment, silence filled the field.
Then.....
[HAHAHAHA!]
The crowd erupted into laughter.
"PFFT—!" "He fell?!" "After acting all cool too!" "What an idiot!"
Aero's face turned red with embarrassment. He immediately sprang back up and hurried up the stairs as if nothing had happened, though his stiff movements betrayed his shame. Trying to regain his dignity, he stood before the podium.
Fernardh glanced at him briefly before calmly speaking, "Place your hand on the glass tablet."
Aero nodded and pressed his palm against the surface.
Nothing happened.
The field became silent.
A second passed.
Then another.
"…Huh?" Aero muttered.
At last, a faint reddish-pink glow emerged from the glass. It was weak, Very weak.
The entire crowd stared blankly for a second.... and then exploded into laughter once more.
"HAHAHA! He deserves it for acting cocky!" "Look at his face!" "Is he about to cry?!" "That light is pathetic!"
The mocking only intensified.
Aero stood frozen, staring at the dim glow with wide eyes. His mouth twitched awkwardly as if his brain had stopped functioning.
"Silence." Fernardh's voice echoed sharply across the field, instantly quieting the crowd.
He looked down at Aero and announced calmly, "You have been classified as… Beta Class."
The bracelet on Aero's wrist shifted into a dull-colored glow.
[Narrator: Beta Class is the average classification of powers, individuals in this class possess abilities considered neither particularly strong nor weak. Their concepts are generally suited for daily utility rather than combat or large-scale influence]
"After all that confidence? A Beta?" "That's actually embarrassing." "He acted like some legendary genius too!"
Aero slowly walked down the stage with an awkward, broken smile plastered across his face. His expression screamed confusion, humiliation, and disbelief all at once.
It was the kind of face someone made after their soul had left their body.
"Next," Fernardh called out indifferently.
Aero returned to the crowd in complete silence.
…
After the remaining applicants completed their tests, Fernardh stepped forward once more.
"Good work on completing the first examination. Shortly, the second test will begin. Before that, your groups will now be assigned."
He gestured toward the side of the field.
"If you look to your left, you will see several academy instructors standing with colored bands. Match the color of your bracelet and gather beside the corresponding instructor."
The participants quickly turned their attention toward the instructors.
Fernardh continued,
"And now… I shall announce your second test."
A faint grin appeared on his face.
"Your next examination will be…"
"Arcana."
A murmur spread throughout the crowd.
"Arcana?" Aero accidentally said out loud. "What's that?"
The boy standing beside him adjusted his glasses before replying calmly,
"Arcana is a traditional survival-selection game held during every academy examination. Participants are randomly teleported into the Great Forest of Drwgil. The first fifty people to locate the Arcana Scroll qualify for the next round."
He paused.
"Though… I'm surprised they're still using it. I heard the academy planned to abandon the old format."
Aero stared at him thoughtfully.
(Hmm… this guy looks smart.)
(The glasses… the slightly hunched posture… the clean clothes… even that thin book he's carrying… Yeah. Definitely smart.)
(I should stick with him. He might actually help me survive.)
Aero immediately turned cheerful.
"Ahaha… thanks for the explanation. I'm Aero."
He stretched out his hand.
The boy accepted the handshake.
"I am Burne… Burne Fortwind. Nice to meet you."
"Same to you," Aero replied.
Burne adjusted his glasses again.
"Let's listen carefully. The overseer is about to explain the rules."
Aero nodded quickly.
Fernardh spoke once more,
"I will now explain the rules of Arcana. Since most of you are already familiar with the test, I will keep this brief."
He raised one finger.
"All participants will be divided into groups of five."
"Each team will consist of: One Beta Class, Two Alpha Classes, And two Omega Classes."
A stir spread through the crowd.
Fernardh continued, "As for the sole participant ranked under the 'Other Class' category… she will not participate in the second examination and will instead advance directly to the third round."
The field instantly erupted with murmurs.
"What's an Other Class?" "Why does she get special treatment?" "Is she really that strong?"
Aero leaned toward Burne.
"What's an Other Class? And why does she get to skip?"
Burne answered calmly,
"Because she's the strongest participant here and if she were to participate the second examination would have ended in seconds "
[Narrator: Other Classes are classifications that cannot be measured by the standard Beta, Alpha, or Omega ranking system.
Their abilities are often too abnormal, destructive, or unique to categorize properly. Some possess concepts capable of altering entire battlefields—or even threatening nations themselves.
Because of this, they are granted special classifications and titles unique to their abilities]
Aero blinked repeatedly.
"…Huh?"
Burne sighed lightly.
"You'll understand if you survive until the third round."
Aero quickly asked,
"So who is this person?"
Burne pointed toward the distance.
"Look over there. The girl with skin as pale as snow… eyes red like eternal crimson flames… and beauty worthy of a goddess."
Aero stared at him.
"Whoa, calm down. You sound like you're about to start worshipping her."
(If even this composed guy talks like that… she must really be something.)
Aero turned to look.
The moment he saw her—
"…Wooooow…"
His jaw dropped.
The girl stood silently among the crowd, her silver-white hair flowing elegantly in the wind. Her crimson eyes were cold yet mesmerizing, and her mere presence made the surrounding participants seem dull in comparison.
"You were right…" Aero whispered. "She really does look like a goddess…"
Then he glanced back at Burne.
"But how do you know her?"
Burne answered almost immediately.
"Why wouldn't I? She's the daughter of Trimania."
Aero's eyes widened.
"Tri.. Tri...Trimania? As in the wielder of the Concept of Love?"
"Exactly. My family is of noble status, so I've seen her at gatherings many times. Ever since the first day I laid eyes on her… I haven't been able to look away."
A strange smile slowly spread across Burne's face.
"Her beauty is beyond mortal comprehension…"
He started making unsettling noises under his breath while staring at her.
Aero slowly leaned away in discomfort.
(What the hell is wrong with this guy?)
(I thought he was smart and composed, but he's just a creepy fanatic.)
Aero forced an awkward laugh.
"O-Okay… I get it. You can stop now."
Burne suddenly snapped back to reality and cleared his throat.
"My apologies. I became carried away expressing my admiration."
"Yeah… clearly," Aero replied with visible disgust.
Meanwhile, Fernardh continued his announcement.
"The objective of Arcana remains unchanged. However, this year, instead of the first fifty individuals advancing…"
He raised his hand.
"Only the first eight groups to obtain an Arcana Scroll will proceed to the third examination."
The atmosphere instantly grew tense.
"The duration of this test is three days. By the end of the third day, every surviving member of your group must return together with the scroll."
His eyes sharpened.
"Fail to do so… and your entire team is disqualified."
A chilling silence fell over the field.
Fernardh smiled faintly.
"Now then…"
[ SNAP! ]
The moment his fingers snapped, space itself distorted.
In an instant.....
Everyone vanished.
[ GREAT FOREST OF DRWGIL ]
"…Ugh…"
Aero slowly opened his eyes, his head spinning violently. "What happened…? Where am I…?"
Towering trees surrounded him in every direction. The forest was enormous, ancient, and unnaturally silent.
"Hey. Wake up already."
A cold voice suddenly spoke nearby.
"I don't want to waste any more time because of you."
Aero looked up.
Standing before him were four unfamiliar people.
One of them crossed their arms impatiently.
"Get up," they said coldly.
"We don't have all day."